Chapter 88: The Scenery of Jinsha, the Succession Banquet Begins

Since he had already agreed to attend the banquet for the succession of the city lord, the young man was not in a hurry and spent the next few days leisurely strolling around Jinsha City.

The cities near this desert are indeed quite different from other places. Not to mention the food, housing, and transportation, the stone used to build the city walls is unique enough.

The general residential areas are fine, as they use solid limestone. But further west, many buildings are made of pink sandstone, which looks like a beautiful rose from afar, with sand and dust mixed in, like a naturally born beauty that makes people marvel.

However, further out of the city lies the Sandy Tomb District, where the Golden Mausoleum, the Tomb of Wang Daoxian, and even some unnamed tombstones rest peacefully in the rose sandstone formations far outside the city.

That place wasn't far, but it wasn't close either. That's what Qin Tianshu said after visiting Wang Daoxian's tomb.

In fact, the two places are far apart and there is sandstorm, but from the cemetery area, you can see a little bit of the shadow of Jinsha City, which seems to be a last memorial to the deceased amidst the flying yellow sand.

"By the way, where exactly is that 'Chronicles of the Nine Provinces' from Liangzhou? Everyone keeps talking about the Western Liang and Jinsha, but they never say where that book is."

"Actually... it's in Wang Daoxian's tomb."

"So you've seen it..."

"What are you thinking? That's a unique copy. When it was first transported to Xiliang, the then-chief of the Liujin clan made many copies, piecing together a complete and rare collection."

"Let me think, that book should still be in the city lord's mansion."

The scholar said this at the end, but he didn't explain how he knew about the Sword Immortal in the South China Sea, or how he entered Jinsha City at such a young age... However, several months had passed since the Yunzhou incident, so they didn't pay much attention to it.

...

Over the past few days, Qingyu and his friends have explored many of these beautiful rose sandstone areas, marveling at the natural splendor while also indulging in a variety of local delicacies.

Chewy and delicious naan, stir-fried shallots, mutton stew with flatbread, camel milk, and even a few people ordered a whole roasted lamb at the end. They just did whatever was new and interesting and ate whatever tasted good.

Qingyu doesn't usually like eating mutton, but the mutton in Jinsha City is really delicious. It's not fishy or gamey, and the meat is especially good when it's roasted until it's golden and crispy, with a wonderful aroma and a glistening, oily sheen. It makes you want to stop and have a bite even as you walk by.

Zhang Xuan also joked that her aversion to eating mutton had finally been cured.

Qingyu was eating meat with his cheeks puffed out when the girl glared at him, then swallowed her food and said, "You're one to talk! Yesterday when we were eating vegetables, you clearly didn't want to eat anymore, but you insisted on feeding the vegetables."

Vegetables? Are there any vegetables?

Cai Cai suddenly started clucking. It had eaten quite a lot of good food these past few days. Sometimes Wen Chuan was worried about whether it could eat or not, so he went to ask Lin Fanxiang. Unexpectedly, Lin Fanxiang was also at a loss. She was a human doctor, not a veterinarian. She was really confused about what chickens could and couldn't eat.

Qingyu laughed heartily upon hearing this. She picked up Cai Cai and held her high, exclaiming, "Cai Cai, Cai Cai, you're already a mature little chick!"

"From now on, you'll have to decide for yourself what you can eat!"

The scholar smiled and waved his fan, "It's very clever. Yesterday I fed it meat, but it wouldn't eat it and even pecked at me."

Zhang Xuan complained, "That's because you put chili peppers in the meat, making it cry from the spiciness!"

"Oh dear, it was an accident, it was an accident."

"Yeah, it was so spicy it almost made the vegetables fly away."

"Tsk tsk tsk, even when it flies, it still pecks at me. What a good temperament. It's no wonder you studied so much."

Zhang Xuan: "..."

...

They playfully bickered, and Qingyu even dragged Lin Fanxiang to buy several sets of Hu-style clothes: narrow-sleeved, collared, long trousers, leather boots, gold and pearl jewelry, bright colors with strong contrasts, gorgeous and grand.

Especially Qingyu, she even bought a low-cut, narrow-sleeved short top and a high-waisted skirt, with sheer sleeves. Lin Fanxiang felt a little embarrassed looking at her. She whispered to Qingyu why she bought all these things. Then, in the whispered conversation between best friends, she curiously asked Qingyu if she and Wen Chuan were now calling each other husband and wife.

After all, they were sharing a room.

Qingyu laughed and said that they had obtained the title of husband and wife by bowing to heaven and earth. As for the ceremony, they would hold it later after they had thought it through. In any case, the marriage between a human and a demon should be held in two parts. They had a good idea: one simple one to announce to heaven and earth, and one grand one to invite relatives and friends.

Lin Fanxiang nodded thoughtfully, looking at the clothes with a little embarrassment. Qingyu winked at her and said, "Fanxiang, actually, whether I have a husband or not, I will still buy these clothes."

Lin Fanxiang was a little puzzled, but Qingyu smiled and said, "Because they're pretty. I just like pretty things. Besides, the clothes we wear in summer are already quite thin. These dresses are just a bit bolder in the details."

"And also... Fan Xiang, when I went to the Princess's residence, the male dancers there dressed much more daringly than these—"

"You, you, just buy it if you like it. It's not like you're going to wear it today."

She smiled and raised an eyebrow, her expression even carrying a hint of ambiguity. Lin Fanxiang glanced at her, and then the girl, unusually, also smiled.

"Then, I'll give it a try too."

In some ways, she definitely inherited her mother's traits; who wouldn't like something bright and beautiful?

Qingyu leaned against her with a smile, saying she wanted to see. Fanxiang chuckled and said she did too. Their laughter was low as they chatted and occasionally blushed and scratched each other's waists. Sunlight streamed through the window screen as they quietly chose clothes and paid for them. It was a beautiful scene of close female friends laughing and chatting freely.

...

Time flies; it feels like just yesterday that December 10th arrived.

The ceremony for the succession of the city lord was held at the city lord's mansion and consisted of two parts: a sacrificial ceremony and a banquet. First, everyone was invited into the mansion to witness the sacrificial ceremony to the gods, and then the formal banquet began.

"The Yuwen family of Liangzhou City presented a gold and silver waist knife as a congratulatory gift. Its natural cold gleam is exquisitely crafted!"

"The Cheng family of Liangzhou City is giving me a congratulatory gift: an antidote pill that can cure all poisons—a peerless treasure!"

"The Duan family of Shangyun City presents a gift of desert herbs and spices, elegant and refined, embodying the charm of the desert!"

"The Fiery Caravan of Jinsha City presents three camels as a gift, bringing good fortune and treasures from the desert!"

"..."

Accompanied by the cheerful voice of the servant boy, Qingyu and the others leisurely stepped into the gate of the city lord's mansion.

Zhang Xuan exclaimed "Hey!" and looked at Qin Tianshu, "Brother, what are we giving as a gift?"

He was in charge of this matter, but Zhang Xuan had been having too much fun these past few days and hadn't paid attention.

Hearing this, Qingyu smiled and tilted her head, saying, "He was worried about this for half the day yesterday."

The scholar looked worried yesterday, not knowing what to give as a gift. He even spent a long time rummaging through his carriage.

Zhang Xuan: "We can't just give the vegetables away, can we?"

Cai Cai: "Giggle!"

Qin Tianshu listened to their conversation with a smile, still holding Cai Cai, without saying a word. Wen Chuan stood next to Qing Yu, glanced at the scholar, and then spoke, his voice light and tinged with amusement, "It's porcelain."

The porcelain from Jingquan in Jingzhou is renowned throughout China for its exquisite craftsmanship, and it is rarely seen in the south and desert. Qin Tianshu sending this set of porcelain can be seen as a sign of their respect for the Liujin clan of Xiliang.

They walked quickly, and in no time they arrived at the main banquet hall under the guidance of the servant.

Upon arriving at the main hall, Madam Wei greeted them with a smile and, after exchanging pleasantries, invited them to take their seats. This banquet was divided into men's and women's seating, with men on the left and women on the right. Madam Wei then led Qingyu and Fanxiang to the right side.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Amidst the lively and festive atmosphere, Qingyu, arm in arm with Fanxiang, sat down with smiles. Before they could say anything more, Qingyu heard a sarcastic, slightly angry remark from beside her—

"Why is it you guys?"

Qingyu tilted her head. Oh, what a coincidence! It's Miss Duan from the Duan family. And further ahead are the two female members of the Yuwen family.

The Yuwen and Duan families are among the most prestigious clans in Xiliang. There is also the Cheng family, a renowned alchemy family in Xiliang. However, I heard that the Cheng family has recently encountered some trouble, so they did not attend the banquet and only sent an antidote pill as a gift.

The seating arrangement for the female guests was as follows: first, Yuwen and Duan Shi, followed by Qingyu and the others.

Such seating arrangements already demonstrated the respect and importance the Liujin Clan placed on them, so Qingyu and Fanxiang naturally couldn't cause trouble here and disturb their big day.

Of course, we hope that this woman surnamed Duan is also like that.

Qingyu smiled and looked at Duan Zixi, "The city lord's invitation is too kind to refuse."

Duan Zixi snorted and turned her head. Over the past few days, she had learned from her brother and City Lord Wei who these people were. Her brother had given her a strict order not to cause trouble; otherwise, she would definitely seek justice for what happened that day.

What Xiao Enci did, even arranging for them to be here, is deliberately going against her!

And Yuwen Ran, I hate her the most! What's she laughing at? Pshaw!

...Is my brother glaring at me...? Aren't you afraid your eyes will pop out from glaring at me like that?!

...Why is he sitting next to my brother? He looks even better...Does he really have a relationship with that woman...?

Duan Zixi's expression was really not good. One moment she was indignant, the next she was disdainful, and then she became infatuated. In short, her expression changed a lot. Qingyu felt that she had been acting out countless dramas in her mind all by herself.

Before Qingyu and Lin Fanxiang could say anything more, Miss Yuwen Ran from the Yuwen clan got up and came to their side.

Yuwen Ran is the eldest daughter of the Yuwen family. She also has a younger brother, but he is focused on cultivation and has no interest in the family's affairs. I heard that he is currently traveling somewhere.

However, this did not hinder anything, because this Miss Yuwen had always done business with her father and managed the family. Sometimes she was even more resourceful and resourceful than her father. It was said that the Yuwen clan had long ago decided to make her the next head of the family—she was an extremely outstanding woman.

"I had heard of you two before, and seeing you today, I can confirm that your reputation is well-deserved."

Yuwen Ran smiled and said to them, "The woman has a heroic look in her eyes and brows, and her features are striking. Her crisp and refreshing demeanor makes her very likable."

Qingyu smiled and politely replied, "Miss Yuwen, you flatter me."

Yuwen Ran smiled, "This must be Miss Qingyu, just as my brother described."

Dressed in red with a flower pendant at her waist, she was a demon, yet her eyes and brows exuded a chivalrous air. Beyond her beauty, she possessed profound cultivation, and her friends were also top cultivators in the Nine Provinces. She was truly a legend.

"Your brother?"

"The first snow in Jizhou is snow-covered Meishan Mountain. My younger brother, Yuwen Yuan, a sword cultivator, has also fought with you ladies. Although his cultivation is not as good as yours, he is sincere in his pursuit of the Dao. He wrote to me long ago, saying that it is rare to see such a young man in the Nine Provinces. If you ever come to Liangzhou City, our Yuwen clan will definitely treat you well and regard you as honored guests."

Although they are not in Liangzhou City at the moment, it is still a matter of fate to meet, not to mention that they are now together at the succession banquet in Jinsha City.

"So that's how it is. It seems we have a connection with the Yuwen clan in Jizhou and Liangzhou."

Qingyu and Lin Fanxiang exchanged a glance and smiled. Soon they became familiar with each other. They were all young ladies, and Yuwen Ran sincerely wanted to make friends, so Qingyu and the others naturally did not refuse.

...

Leaving that aside, more and more people arrived at the banquet and gradually took their seats. Before long, Wei Xun arrived.

Wei Xun looked to be in his early twenties, with regular features, deep-set eyes, and an upright posture that exuded righteousness. Today, he was dressed in a luxurious black robe, his expression solemn and polite as he quietly walked into the main hall of the banquet.

He was followed by a butler with an ordinary face but a somewhat effeminate demeanor. The butler walked slowly alongside him, and even when Madam Wei arrived, he did not step back but instead walked alongside her.

Do you remember Qingshui's inauguration banquet? The host family used a banquet hall in the front and an ancestral hall in the back to carry out the ceremony. However, Jinsha City had its own customs, which were combined with the usual inauguration banquets, resulting in this succession banquet.

The city lord does not need to go to the back hall. He only needs to light incense loudly in the main hall under the watchful eyes of everyone, then bury the incense ash with sand, and then throw a handful of yellow sand into the sky. This is considered the completion of the succession ceremony.

Wei Xun stopped, with Madam Wei and the steward standing behind him. Beside Madam Wei was a boy of about twelve or thirteen years old—presumably Wei Xun's younger brother, Wei Feng.

Everyone fell silent. Madam Wei clapped her hands three times, and a servant pushed in the sand table and offered incense sticks.

The crowd watched this scene in silence, while some wondered, "I remember it was the old city lord who was supposed to pass the incense sticks to the new city lord, so why is it like this today..."

"Hey, stop talking, just watch..."

Before they could say more than a few words, the steward behind Wei Xun glanced at them in response to the sound, his gaze cold and menacing, truly intimidating.

Watching this scene, Qingyu tilted her head slightly, finding it interesting. That butler... no wonder, no wonder Wen Chuan and Brother Tianshu hesitated to speak back then.

"etc!"

Before Wei Xun could even light the incense, a middle-aged man's voice came from the banquet. Everyone looked in the direction of the voice—it was Yuwen Lan, the current head of the Yuwen clan.

Although Yuwen Lan's name was refined, he was actually a large man. At this moment, his voice was deep and full of energy, "With the succession of the City Lord of Jinsha, the old City Lord should be present. May I ask, new City Lord, where is the old City Lord Wei?"

"My grandfather is seriously ill, and it is really inconvenient for him to get up today."

"I intended to inform everyone after the ceremony, but I didn't expect to cause the Yuwen family head any worry."

Madam Wei spoke first, her expression slightly apologetic, but her words were reasonable and well-founded, making it difficult to blame her.

Upon seeing this, the head of the Yuwen family snorted. He flicked his sleeve, his gaze first sweeping over Madam Wei before fixing on Wei Xun.

"It's not your turn, little girl, to speak! When Liu Jin succeeds, the old city lord should pass on the incense, and the new city lord should take over. Behind you should be the Wei family."

"But today, the old city lord is nowhere to be seen, and now a complete stranger has suddenly appeared and is standing behind the new city lord—the people of Xiliang all respect the Liujin clan because of ancient customs. The Liujin clan is succeeding to the position today, and they should also respect these ancient customs and the witnesses present here today!"

Turning incense, lighting incense, offering sand, burying incense, and scattering sand—this is not the succession ceremony of the city lord, but the succession ceremony of Liu Jin.

"Yeah...who is this person...?"

"It's one thing that the old city lord isn't here, but... what Patriarch Yuwen said makes sense..."

"Why hasn't Lord Wei said a word for so long... This is too much..."

"Don't say that, after all, it's the Ryukin clan."

A buzz of discussion arose among the crowd. Madam Wei comforted the somewhat frightened young Wei Feng, her brows furrowed and eyes lowered, remaining silent. Wei Xun, standing to the side, smiled and said, "Patriarch Yuwen is right. My grandfather is seriously ill today and is truly unable to rise. As for this..."

He paused, then looked at Wei Nian, who was also dressed in black behind him, and said, "This is the adopted son my father recognized before he died. Today is the perfect opportunity, and I would like to ask you all to be my witnesses."

“Wei Nian is my father’s adopted son, whom I, Wei Xun, regard as an elder brother. He is also a member of my Wei family!”

"absurd!"

Yuwen Lan stared wide-eyed. Wei Xun's father had been dead for over a decade, so where did this adopted son come from?

He was about to speak when Duan Jue pulled him back. They looked at each other, and Duan Jue shook his head slightly at him.

As family heads, Duan Jue and Yuwen Lan naturally knew each other and had even done business together for many years. Today, the succession of the city lord seemed like a child's play, but Wei Xun insisted on it. The bloodline of the Liujin clan was there, and they could not be too presumptuous.

Yuwen Lan was indignant, but he kept quiet. Seeing this, everyone else also quieted down.

Madam Wei personally took the incense stick and candle holder from the servant and offered the incense to the new city lord. Wei Xun took it and lit it—

"puff--"

Suddenly, the sound of vomiting blood rang out, and Wei Nian knelt on the ground, unable to get up, with blood continuously flowing from his mouth.

"A-Nian!"

Wei Xun hurriedly helped him up, and for a moment everyone was in a flurry of activity again. Some were helping, some were talking, some were worried about today's ceremony, and some were just watching the show. In short, it was quite a spectacle.

Amidst the noise, Xiao Enci looked up. The woman's face was calm, and suddenly, she saw Qingyu.

The woman in red had a calm expression, her eyes holding a hint of indifference, but more than that, amusement.

Xiao Enci met her gaze. For a moment, she smiled, but the next second, she turned around and hurriedly called for people to make arrangements, as if what had just happened was just an illusion.

-----------------------

Author's note: I feel like not many people are reading the Mad Sand arc, maybe it's because everyone's on holiday and out having fun haha ​​[glasses]...

I actually quite liked this one. The elements were a bit mixed, and the main characters in each episode were a little crazy... Later on, a "god" will appear, and a group of people will spend the New Year in the desert! [Milk tea emoji]

Happy National Day everyone!

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